Corvette Racing team overcomes the unpredictable, # 4 wins GTLM; Whelen/Action Express # 31 & # 5 are 2nd & 3rd in DP at Sebring.
The Corvette Racing Team overcame extreme weather and unrelenting track conditions in guiding the # 4 to win GTLM at the 12 Hours of Sebring. It took a extra measures of confidence, strategy, performance and luck to win on the historic airport circuit that extracts a heavy toll on equipment.
A sweet victory made up for the mess on the winning Corvette of Tommy Milner, Oliver Gavin and Marcel Fassler.
None are better and more resourceful at long distance endurance events than the Corvette Racing Team. Coming off victories at Daytona, Sebring & Le Mans in 2015 and Daytona in 2016, a yellow Corvette prevailed at Sebring once again.
# 3 Jan Magnussen was leading with 4 hrs to go when he got hit by the hydroplaning # 911 Porsche GTLM of Kevin Estre while attempting to pass the slower # 9 Stevenson Audi GTD on the outside. The Corvette and Porsche crashed into the tire barrier that lines the fast sweeping left hand turn 1. Watch the action here!
The exceptional crew repaired the # 3 car in 35 minutes allowing it to finish the race - 9th in GTLM.
As darkness fell the # 4 car handled much better and Tommy Milner passed both Bill Auberlin the # 25 and John Edwards in the # 100 BMWs.
Earlier in the race, all the cars were brought to pit lane and the race was stopped for impending severe weather. An understatement. 2 hours! Intermittent periods of torrential rain followed. As the track dried and went wet again, switching from wets to slicks was a crapshoot, even for Doug Fehan and his experienced crew chiefs Dan Binks and Brian Hoye.
Corvette Racing the best in GT Racing per Doug Fehan. http://www.corvetteblogger.com/2016/03/24/doug-fehan-corvette-racing-worlds-best-gt-racing-team/
Outcome decided by 5 crazy moments. http://www.corvetteblogger.com/2016/03/22/five-crazy-moments-for-corvette-racing-at-the-twelve-hours-of-sebring/
Dane Cameron in the # 31 Whelen and Christian Fittipaldi in the # 5 Action Express built a lead for first overall in DP when a late yellow flag allowed Pipo Derani in the # 2 Tequila Patron Ligier Honda to catch up. He got a jump on the re-start with only 11 minutes to go and pulled away for the win.
The 64th running of the Sebring 12 hours again proves it’s always good to take an extra pair of dry socks & change of underwear.
Thanks to Nigel Scott Dobbie, Lou Galanos, Richard Prince, Marc Dupuis and Regis Lefebure for some great photos.
Bill Tower gave a talk at the Hall of Legends where his SR2 Corvette, the legendary 1957 Corvette SS and an impressive collection of wide-body Greenwood Corvettes were on display.
Next race is April 15-16, a “short” 1 hr - 40 min affair preceding the big Indy Car race at Long Beach.
